US Official Says Castro Playing With Fire

[guajira]

Smirk to Castro: Get in line or else!!!

snippets:
NEW YORK - The U.S. administration's point man on Latin America accused Fidel Castro on Tuesday of promoting "provocative" policies to destabilize democratic governments and warned the Cuban leader he was "playing with fire."

Roger Noriega, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, also singled out Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, calling on him to observe the rule of law in the run-up to a possible referendum on his presidency.

"Those that continue in destabilizing democratically elected governments, interfering in the internal affairs of other governments, are playing with fire," he said.

U.S. officials told The Associated Press that Cuba and Venezuela are working together to oppose pro-American, democratic governments in the region with money, political indoctrination and training, such as in Ecuador and Uruguay. Venezuelan resources may have helped in the October ouster of Bolivia's elected, pro-American president, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, according to the officials, who declined to be named.
more.....

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7646125.htm

[Minstrel Boy]

1. calling on Chavez "to observe the rule of law"

Telling Chavez to observe the rule of law!

These fuckers have a moral blindspot the size of ... all I can think of that's large enough is their own arrogance.

Assholes, liars and murderers.

[pretzel4gore]

2. yes...

you nail it!

[Ekova]

4. No kidding.

Fall in line like a good little boy. I think these people might actually believe American foreign policy is "when you start doing what we're telling you to do, we'll let you do that".

Brutal, especially getting on Cuba when Gitmo is right there. It's getting to be like that classmate in grade nine that purposely tried (and succeeded) to be a dick all the time.

Could probably find more honesty in a crack addict - at least they'd tell you they were trying to manipulate you.

[Thaddeus]

3. Beyond the pale

First, Noriega is a war criminal and should be locked up. Second, the only country with a spectacular history of destabilizing democratically elected governments is ours. To name a few: Iran, 1953; Guatemala, 1954; Chile, 1973; Venezuela, 2002, not to mention our very own little coup de tat in 2000. Who will be next?

[burrowowl]

5. Yep!

Coming from Noriega, no less. It is beyond the pale.

[yellowcanine]

6. Three Words: Pot, Kettle, Black

Or as the KJV of the Bible puts it, paraphrasing, "Don't complain about the speck in your neighbor's eye when there is a mote (log) in your own eye."

[loudnclear]

7. I guess a coup would have been applauded by the US.

think Pakistan...our big ally...a military coup dictator like Musharaff ..he's our "bud."

[Judi Lynn]

8. Roger Noriega used to be an assistant to Jesse Helms

Only an administration as reactionary, as twisted as _Bush's would consider using him in any capacity.

From the article:

(snip) Noriega also expressed concern with some of Argentina's recent foreign policy decisions. He said the failure of Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa to meet with Cuban dissidents when Bielsa visited Havana was "particularly disappointing." (snip)

Noriega also urged Argentina's President Nestor Kirchner to stick to a $21 billion debt refinancing plan backed by the International Monetary Fund (news - web sites). Buenos Aires's financial standing has been battered by an economic implosion in December 2001 and massive $103 billion public debt default — the largest default ever by a country. (snip)


Noriega said that the United States wants Latin American leaders to agree on deadlines for protecting property rights, fighting corruption and creating jobs. (snip)

He also said leaders should simplify regulations on remittances — money sent from immigrants and workers in the United States to their home countries — which he said should total some $30 billion this year. (snip)

Apparently these people have decided they are going to dictate EVERY COUNTRY'S BUSINESS. I hope Latin America has a strong, unified response to them. They are beneath contempt.

Here's a look at _Bush's Roger Noriega:

(snip) Just how did the Kansas native and scion of Mexican immigrants become poised to hold one of the U.S.’s top diplomatic posts? Judging from the record, Noriega’s appointment was as much predicated on political imperatives as personal merit. A staff member from 1997 to 2001 of the very body in which he testified before on May 1, Noriega fell under the tutelage of then-committee chairman, Jesse Helms. A consummate hardliner, Helms once responded to the killings of doctors and nurses by the contras in Nicaragua by saying, “Well—they’re just Communists—they deserve to die.”

Capitalising on his political patron’s clout and other meticulously cultivated relationships with influential government figures, Noriega was catapulted to the U.S. ambassadorial post at the OAS. An opportunity arose for further advancement in late 2002 after the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, a foreign policy appointment tantamount to a cabinet post in U.S. domestic politics, opened up. The job became vacant after the Senate twice spurned the nomination of Cuban-American Otto Reich, darling of the conservative exile community in Miami, on account of his polarizing personality and tainted background. A consummate hardliner, Reich has been linked in the past to violent, anti-Castro terrorists (in addition to peaceful dissidents) and, in the 1980’s, as head of the U.S. State Department Office of Public Diplomacy for Latin America, he was alleged to have composed deliberately misleading pro-Contra commentaries on Nicaragua that graced the pages of some of the U.S.’s leading broadsheets. After the Senate refused to grant permanent status to Reich’s recess appointment as one of Secretary of State Colin Powell’s top deputies, Reich was transferred to the White House and given the specially-created post of “Special Envoy to the Western Hemisphere.” While Noriega’s employment record and political profile scarcely differ from the ultra-conservative Reich, the former is less polarizing than the latter, which is conducive to bipartisan legislative endorsement.

Besides placating the Senate, the appointment of Noriega serves George W. Bush’s domestic agenda in other ways as well. The U.S. President can brandish the appointment of a Helms disciple as a sop to hard-line Cuban-American groups in Miami who were dejected by Senate’s dismissal of Reich. (snip/...)

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00064.htm



A real little tyrant in his own right.

[Minstrel Boy]

9. As Bruce Cockburn put it:

"If I had a rocket launcher..."

:nuke:

[TolstoyAndy]

14. WTF ! Helms is scum ...

...but I never heard that!

Anyway, Radio Havana (via shortwave, I think 6000 KHz (or MHz, I'm too lazy to get up and look) in the evenings) is so much more honest about international news than even PBS or NPR.

I'm not saying Castro has never done anything bad - just that our government is worse.

[indepat]

10. Looks like Castro is going to be taught a lesson.

[guajira]

11. Since Cuba is Visited and Loved by Much of the World

That should create a very big anti-war movement! I'd be willing to go the Cuba to defend their right to govern themselves.

My favorite Cuba Website - has enough good links to keep any Cubaphile or student of all things Cuba, busy for many hours!

http://www.afrocubaweb.com/

[Judi Lynn]

12. He's giddy with power,

knowing our Senate and House of Representatives are going to overturn the travel ban and embargo as soon as possible.

He's running totally contrary to the beliefs and interests of the American majority on Cuba.

Republicans just can't handle power. They love to flaunt it by doing nasty things to others.

[David__77]

13. Neocons will provoke continent-wide revolution.

Venezuela... Ecuador... Brazil... Bolivia. The list goes on. Only extreme lies led to the defeat of the Sandanistas in 2001. The FMLN will probably win power in El Salvador. The old corrupt oligarchs are running scared. Neo-liberalism is a dead end--and a death warrent for the masses of people.

[bemildred]

15. This is just noise.

They would not be making these stupid threats if they
had better stuff ready to hand. Noriega wants to pretend
he is still a fearful presence.

[jmcgowanjm]

17. Speech-Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba

The course of events must change or else our species will not survive

at the Karl Marx Theater on January 3, 2004, for the 45 Anniversary of the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2004/enero/lun5/2fidel-i.html

[bemildred]

18. An awesome speech, Sir.

Thank you for putting it up.

[ConcernedCanuk]

16. Actually, - Noriega makes a valid point

.
.
. IF he was referring to the United States !!

"Those that continue in destabilizing democratically elected governments, interfering in the internal affairs of other governments, are playing with fire," he said."

Sounds lke what the USA has been doing ever since it found it's "muscle" ever since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, no ?

What other country "interferes" with other countries more than the USA ?

Gee, that guy must have a VERY short memory, did not the USA just invade and occupy another Sovereign Nation that was not at war with anyone??

Sheesh - give my wee Canuk brain a break !

[escapen]

19. This guy's another point man

for the Miami mob. A governor here, a Western Hemisphere "expert" there, pretty soon you're talking about real votes, in the bag.

As opposed to the 2000 heist.

[Judi Lynn]

20. Superior first post, escapen!

May the spirit of NOT be with you!

Welcome to DU. :hi: :hi: :hi: :bounce:

[Judi Lynn]

21. HIGHTOWER: Banned in Cuba

HIGHTOWER: Banned in Cuba

By Jim Hightower, AlterNet
January 6, 2004

As a patriotic, taxpaying American, I for one, am proud to see that George W. Bush is defending our shores against one of the more important terrorist threats to the American people: Cuban cigars.


It almost brings tears to my old red-white-and-blue eyes to see our president stand like a rock, using the full powers and majesty of his office to protect you and me from the unnerving possibility of incoming Cuban tobacco. To prevent a cigar invasion, our brave leader has boldly issued a presidential directive to stop American citizens from traveling to the Cuban island, which, as we know, is such a formidable threat to our national security. Words are inadequate to express the depths of my feelings toward George W for taking away your and my freedom to travel


It seems that tens of thousand of Americans have been taking people-to-people tours to Cuba to see for themselves the pluses and minuses of that country under Castro. Many have returned impressed, not only with the beauty of the island and the people, but with Cuba's healthcare and educational systems.


However, this independent judgment doesn't fit with Bush's official doctrine of demonizing Castro and economically punishing the Cuban people, and it also infuriates Bush's wealthy supporters in Florida's Cuban-exile community. So, as of January 1, we Americans are banned from seeing Cuba for ourselves.
(snip/...)

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17507

[BiggJawn]

22. ROGER Noriega? any relation to MANUEL????

"Those that continue in destabilizing democratically elected governments, interfering in the internal affairs of other governments, are playing with fire," he said.

Well, since he's with the Chimp Team, he'd know all about that shit, would he not?